Midfielder Ollie Norburn is set for a return to Prenton Park on Saturday as his Shrewsbury Town side visit Wirral for a League One encounter.
It will be the first time the 26-year-old will be back at his old stomping ground since leaving Tranmere for the Shrews 15 months ago.
Norburn enjoyed just the one full season at Prenton Park, 2017-18, after teaming up with Micky Mellon’s then National League team from Macclesfield Town.
It was a successful campaign as Rovers achieved promotion back into the EFL with a play-off final victory over Boreham Wood at Wembley.
The midfielder was at the heart of that promotion-winning team, providing great drive and determination from the centre of the pitch, before becoming chief celebrator after the final whistle at Wembley, knocking Micky Mellon to the ground in the process, not to mention Rovers the Dog and Mark Palios’ grandson in the celebrations back at Prenton Park the following day!
The quality he provided on the pitch played a big part in helping Rovers gain that promotion, and it didn’t go unnoticed as a number of clubs chased his signature that summer.
Norburn decided to join Shrewsbury Town, then managed by his former boss John Askey (who he had worked with at Macclesfield) and make the step up to League One football.
Fifty-odd appearances for Salop later, it appears he has adapted to the step up without any problem, and indeed has been made club captain by current incumbent to the manager position at The New Meadow, Sam Ricketts.
Speaking this week with the Shropshire Star, Norburn looks back on his time at Prenton Park with great fondness.
“It was special,” he said. “I’ve got nothing but good things to say about Tranmere as a club, and the fans and manager there.
“There’s still players that I played with, I’ve got nothing but respect for them.
“It was a great season that we had. We had good players, the likes of James Norwood, who has obviously gone on to Ipswich now, Connor Jennings, who is still there, and Andy Cook, who went to Walsall.
“It was a good time but the opportunity to come here (to Shrewsbury) came around and I’ve not looked back.”
As one of the members of the team who helped Tranmere back into the Football League, I’m sure the Super White Army will remember his time at Prenton Park fondly as well, and he’ll get a good reception from the supporters on Saturday afternoon.
